What Helps Students Learn? (Synthesis of Research)

Author: Wang, M.C., Haertel, G.D., Walberg, H.J.
Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Publication Date: 1993, December/1994, January
Journal: Educational Leadership
Journal Volume: 51(4)
Pages: 74-79

Abstract (written by WestEd)

Wang, Haertel, and Walberg performed a meta-analysis of 179 handbook chapters and reviews, 91 research syntheses, and surveys of 61 researchers to create a database of 11,000 statistical findings. Classroom instructional practices had the largest impact on student achievement, while policies and demographics had the least.

Relative Influences on Learning (19 of 28 factors are listed below; numbers are effect sizes, indicating strength of the factor)

• 65 Classroom Management/Alerting
  
• 63 Metacognitive Processes
  
• 61 Home Environment/Parental Support
  
• 58 Student/Teacher Social Interactions
  
• 55 Motivational Affective Attributes
  
• 54 Peer Group
  
• 54 Quantity of Instruction
  
• 53 School Culture
  
• 52 Classroom Instruction
  
• 51 Curriculum Design
  
• 51 Academic Interactions
  
• 50 Classroom Assessment
  
• 49 Community Influences
  
• 48 Curriculum and Instruction
  
• 46 Parental Involvement Policy
  
• 45 Student Demographics
  
• 41 School Demographics
  
• 37 State-Level Policies
  
• 37 School Policies
  

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